Curtain operating mechanism



May 17, 1932- c. A. ULRICH 1,858,867

CURTAIN OPERAT-[NG' MECHANISM I Filed Sept. 14, 1951 Patented May 17, 1932 CHARLES A. ULRICH, F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM Application led September 14, 1931. Serial No. 562,635.v

My invention relates to curtain operating mechanism.

It has for its object to provide an improved driving connection adapted to be readily and securely connected to the end of a curtain roll to enable the latter to be driven by suitable roll driving means, and one which 1s also adapted to be quickly and conveniently disconnected to permit removal of the roll when 0 desired. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved adapter adapted to transmit the rotation of the driving means to the roll and to be applied to a standard curtain roll with a minimum of change in the latter, and one which further is of an improved construction and located in an improved location and provided with improved means for securely attaching the same to the end of the roll. A still further objectfof my invention is to provide an improved construction of the type adapted to use in connection with al curtain driving mechanism and having an improved construction which enables the driving mechanism and roll to be more l5 readily and quickly connected and disconnected. These and other objects and advantages of my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustration two embodiments which my invention mayy assume in practice.

Figure l is a side elevation of a curtain roll, showing my improved driving connection operatively connected to its driving mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional ,i0 view of the mechanism shown in Fig. l, the view being taken from the opposite side of the latter ligure and on the vertical center line of the roll and only a portion of the driving mechanism being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an Vend view of theroll when equipped with my .improved adapter;

Fig. l is a perspective view of the adapter removed from the roll;

v Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail transverse sec-y tional view showing the gripping edges of one clamp member engaging the end flangeof the roll, and

Fig. 6 is an end view, corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing a modiied construction utilizing three clamping members.

In the illustrative construction shown in Figures l to 5, l have shown a roll l of a standard construction operatively lconnected to be driven in either direction byy a suitable driving mechanism 2, improved operative connections herein being provided between the end of the roll l and themechanism 2.

Referring more particularly to these improved connections, it will be noted that they aremade to the rim or periphery of the roll and that they are also between the flange 3 on the usual axially socketed end member of the roll, and the rotatable drivingl member 4 of the mechanism 2, which driving member is disposed coa-Xially with the roll and flange 3. It will also be noted that the roll shaft 5 is herein cut oli at 6, approximately in the plane of the flange 3, and that an adapter member 7 is disposed coaXially with the roll opposite the end of the shaft and suitably connected to the ange 3 to transmit rotation thereto in either direction.- It will also be noted that this member 7 is operatively con nectable with the driving member 4 of the mechanism 2 in such manner that the rotation of the member t is imparted to the member 7 and that the roll is rotated'in either direction by the mechanism 2 as a result of the connection of the member 7 to the flange 3.

Considering the adapter member 7 more particularly, the same,whilenotlimitedthereto, is preferably, as shown herein, in the form of a iiat round disc. As shown, it is also preferably of smaller diameter than the flange 3 on the roll and carries a plurality of radially located clamping members 8 adapted to clamp that flange between them, two such clamping members being illustrated in this form of my invention as aligned and extending in opposite directions from the disc 7. As shown, each of these clamping members has a lip portion 9 extending over the periphery of the fla-nge and down slightly on the opposite side of the same from the disc 7. will be noted that the flange engaging portion r 1 1 bloieovei, 1t 100 of each of these ange members is preferably bowed longitudinally, as shown at 10, in such manner as to provide spaced gripping edges 11 adapted to grip and firmly hold the flange 3. Also it will be noted that extensions 12 are provided on the clamping members eX- tending at right angles to the body thereof and over the disc 7, and that suitable attaching means are provided for connecting the same to the disc 7. Herein these attaching means are in the form of screws 13 threaded into radially disposed sockets 14 in the disc 7. Also it will be noted that the arrangement is such that, when the members S are tightly clamped upon the flange 3, their portions 12 are still out of contact with the periphery of the disc 7 in such manner-as to tension the members 8. It will also be observed that the threaded apertures 1lL receiving the screws, herein terminate short of an axially disposed aperture 15 in the disc adapted to receive the driving member 4, and that this aperture 15 and the driving member 4 are suitably connected to enable the disc 7 to be driven from the member 4, herein by making both the aperture and driving member of square cross section.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modified construction in which the disc 7, clamping members 8, and screws 18 are of the same construction as that previously described, but instead of providing two sets of clamping members and screws, more of the same are provided, three being shown in this figure and the same being equally spaced about the periphery of the disc. This construction, while usable under certain conditions and with certain forms of my invention, is, however, ordinarily not required, the clamping action of the members 8 in the structure previously described, being so effective as not to require the use of more than two clamps and thus enabling the use of a minimum of clamps with a consequent marked reduction in the cost of the adapter and time required to apply or remove the same.

In operation it will be evident that with the disc 7 having the member 4 interlocked therewith and the disc also securely attached to the roll through the clamping members 8 with their gripping edges 11 and their connections 12, 13, 14, the construction will be such as to provide a positive driving connection whereby the roll lwill be rotated in either direction with the member 7, and the member 7 will be ro-tated in either direction with the driving member 4, depending upon the direction of rotation of the reversible driving` mechanism 2, all in such manner as to enable the latter mechanism to adjust the curtain roll either up or down as may be desired.

As a result of my improved construction, it is made possible substantially to expedite and simplify the connection of the mechanism 2 to a curtain. More particularly, as distinguished from the necessity for pulling out the curtain rod 5 and then cutting olin the end of the latter suciently to expose a socket in the end or" the roll when the cut off rod is returned to position in the roll, in my improved construction all pulling out and return of the rod is eliminated and it is only necessary to cut oil the projecting end of the rod. Moreover, it will be noted that due to my improved construction, the cut also does not have to be located with great accuracy, the length of the projecting end of the rod being immaterial so long as it does not interfere with the disc and driving member 4 and ample space being provided to accommodate different rod lengths. It will also be evident that with the roll rod thus cut off, the disc 7 may be very quickly and securely attached to the flange 3 by means of the clamping members 8, the edges 11 of which grip or bite into the periphery ot the flange, while the screws 13 enable the clamping members to be quickly and securely clamped in the desired position relative to the axis of the roll, while also maintaining the clamping members under tension, Obviously, this construction also enables the driving mechanism 2 to be readily connected to the roll and also provides a means for quickly disconnecting the parts whenever desired, it only being necessary to release one or more of the screws 13 in order to permit the roll to be removed whenever desired without requiring the removal of the mechanism 2 from its normal fixed position on the wall or the window frame. Attention is also directed to the fact that in this construction it is possible to shorten the connection 4, while the adapted structure itself may be very readily and inexpensively provided, and is of a rugged type, which, when once connected with the members 8 .properly tensioned, is not apt to come loose in service. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that the same have been shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. AnV adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having a driving connection and radially located roll gripping means.

2. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a Vroll and having a driving connection and radially located oppositely disposed roll gripping means.

3. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having a driving connection and radially located roll gripping means comprising clamping members engageable with the roll rim.

4. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having a driving connection and radially located roll gripping means comprising clamping members engageable with the roll rim and operating means for said clamping members carried by said body.

5. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having a driving connection and radially located roll gripping means comprising clamping members engageable with the roll rim and tensioning means for said members carried by said body.

6. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having a driving connection and radially located roll gripping means comprising clamping members engageable with the roll rim and operating means for said clamping members carried by said body and adjustable to center said body on a roll. l

7. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having an axial driving connection and radially located clamping members having rim gripping means adapted to grip the rim of a roll.

8. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having an axial driving connection and radially located clamping members having rim gripping means adapted to grip the rim of a roll and comprising a plurality of spaced gripping edges on each clamping member.

9. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having an axial driving connection and radially located clamping members, each having a depending flange adapted to hook over a flange on the end of a roll.

10. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having an axial driving connection and radially located clamping members engageable with the end of a roll and threaded members connecting said clamping members to said body.

11. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having an axial driving connection and radially located clamping members engageable with the end of a roll and threaded members connecting said clamping members to said body and disposed radially of the latter.

12. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having an axial driving connection and radially located clamping members engageable with the end of a roll and threaded members connecting said clamping members to said body and disposed radially of the latter in alignment.

13. An adapter for curtain rolls comprising a body disposable opposite the end of a roll and having an axial driving conection and radially located clamping members engageable with the end of a roll and threaded members connecting said clamping members to said body and disposed radially of the latter, said clamping members and threaded members being of such relative lengths that said clamping members do not engage said body in the roll clamping position of the parts.

lil. In combination, a curtain roll, and adapter means having a body opposite the end of the roll and carrying a driving connection disposed coaxially with the roll and body and radially located means for positioning said body on the end of the roll.

15. In combination, a curtain roll, and adapter means having a body opposite the end of the roll and carrying al driving connection disposed coaxially with the roll and' body and radially located means for positioning said body on the end of the roll, said curtain roll having a. peripheral end flange and said radially located means being clamped on said flange.

16. In combination, a curtain driving mechanism, a curtain roll, and operative connections therebetween releasable while said driving mechanism is in position to permit removal of said roll.

17. In combination, a curtain driving mechanism, a curtain roll, an adapter body disposed coaxially with said roll between the latter and said driving mechanism and carrying radially located means for clamping said body to the periphery of the roll, and driving connections between said body and driving mechanism.

18. In a curtain roll adjusting mechanism, a driving mechanism having a driving member, a roll having an end flange, an adapter body interlocked for rotation with said driving member and disposed coaxially with said roll opposite the end of the latter, and means carried by said body for clamping the same on said flange.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

CHARLES A. ULRICH. 

